Uranium determination in tap water by INAA

Abstract

Uranium can exist in the water as a result of soil leaching or technological processes (mining and processing of phosphate minerals to fertilizer production). The INAA (instrumental neutron activation analysis) usually is used to determination of trace elements through the conversion of stable nuclei to another via nuclear reactions. The present work used INAA method for determination of U in water samples. The goals are validate a methodology to determine U in water samples, apply this methodology and determinate the physical chemical parameters pH, total solids and alkalinity in tap waters samples. The validation was stablished based on varying the irradiation and counting times. A-one-liter sample with 87 g of U was prepared from the standard solution of U 1000 mg L􀀀1 (SPEX CERTIPREP). From this prepared solution was taken ten samples of 100 mL each. After complete evaporation at 100oC in hot plate and at 60oC in infrared lamp, the ten samples were irradiated in the IEA-R1 nuclear research reactor. Two samples from di erent regions were collected for determination of pH, total solids, alkalinity and U concentration.